Hydrangea  plant named ‘KLAHYFLA’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hydrangea macrophylla  named ‘KLAHYFLA’ that is characterized by its inflorescence with sepals of the sterile flowers that open light pink with a light greenish white base and mature to light purple-pink, its sturdy stems that are dark purple-brown (near black) in color, and its free flowering habit with sturdy inflorescences.

Genus/species: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Varietal denomination: ‘KLAHYFLA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘KLAHYFLA’. ‘KLAHYFLA’ represents a new bigleaf hydrangea, a perennial shrub grown for landscape use.

The Inventor discovered the new cultivar in 2006 as a naturally occurring branch mutation of Hydrangea ‘Verena’ (not patented) that was growing in a container located in a greenhouse in Amstelveen, The Netherlands.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by softwood stem cuttings by the Inventor in Amstelveen, The Netherlands in 2010. Asexual propagation by softwood cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘KLAHYFLA’ as a unique cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla.

-   -   1. ‘KLAHYFLA’ exhibits inflorescence with sepals of the sterile         flowers that open light pink with a fight greenish white base         and mature to light purple-pink.     -   2. ‘KLAHYFLA’ exhibits sturdy sterns that are dark purple-brown         (near black) in color.     -   3. ‘KLAHYFLA’ is free flowering with sturdy inflorescences.

The parent plant of ‘KLAHYFLA’, ‘Verena’, differs from ‘KLAHYFLA’ in having inflorescences that are mauve pink in color. ‘KLAHYFLA’ can be most closely compared to the cultivar ‘Zebra’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,688) and ‘Nigra’ (not patented). Both are similar to ‘KLAHYFLA’ in having nearly black colored stems. ‘Zebra’ differs from ‘KLAHYFLA’ in having sterile flowers that are white in color. ‘Nigra’ differs from ‘KLAHYFLA’ in having smaller and less sturdy inflorescences, in having thinner and less sturdy stems, and in having a larger plant size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The photographs in the figures were taken of a two year-old plant of ‘KLAHYFLA’ as grown in an unheated greenhouse in a 22-cm container in Amstelveen, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of ‘KLAHYFLA’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘KLAHYFLA’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a leaf of ‘KLAHYFLA’.

The photograph in FIG. 4 provides a close-up view of a stem of ‘KLAHYFLA’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digital photography and printing techniques utilized mid the color codes in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the new Hydrangea.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of two year-old plants as grown under greenhouse conditions in 22-cm containers in a greenhouse in June in Amstelveen, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Late spring to late summer in The             Netherlands.         -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Broadly upright, sturdy stems.         -   Height and spread.—Average 52 cm in height and 44.3 cm in             diameter for a two year-old plant as grown in a 22-cm             container.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 5 to 9.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to pests             and diseases has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, dense, moderately branched and             primarily 159A in color.         -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.         -   Root development.—Roots initiate in 4 to 5 weeks and fully             develop as a young rooted plant in 3 months (average day             temperatures of 20° C.).         -   Growth rate and vigor.—Moderate. -   Stem description:     -   -   Stem shape.—Round.         -   Stem strength.—Strong.         -   Stem aspect.—Upright to an average angle of 70°.         -   Stem color.—Immature stem; between N186C and 200A, mature             stem; a blend of 199A, 199B and N199D.         -   Stem size.—Average of 40.5 cm in length (excluding the             inflorescence) and 7 mm in diameter.         -   Stem surface.—Glabrous.         -   Branching.—Moderately, freely branching, with an average of             4 lateral branches.         -   Internode length.—Average of 9.9 cm. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Broad elliptic to broad ovate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf number.—Average of 8 (4 pairs) per lateral branch.         -   Leaf base.—Obtuse to short attenuate.         -   Leaf apex.—Broad apiculate.         -   Leaf margins.—Serrated.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper surface; 144C, lower surface;             146C to 146D.         -   Leaf size.—Average of 12.5 cm in length and 9.2 cm in width.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf surface.—Upper and lower surface; smooth and moderately             rugose.         -   Leaf color.—Immature upper surface; between 143C and 144A,             immature lower surface; 144A to 144B, mature upper surface;             N137A, mature lower surface; 147B.         -   Petioles.—Average of 1.9 cm in length and 3.5 mm in             diameter, upper surface color; 144C, tinged 199B, lower             surface color; 199B, upper and lower surfaces are smooth and             very slightly glossy. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flattened globular, mophead form,             compound corymb of single sterile and fertile flowers.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Sterile flowers; persistent,             lasting about 6 weeks, fertile flowers; self-cleaning,             lasting about 1 week.         -   Inflorescence number.—One per lateral or sublateral stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 14 cm in height and 19.7 cm             in diameter.         -   Flower number.—An average of 165 sterile flowers and 70             fertile flowers per inflorescence.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower aspect.—Sterile flowers; upright to outward and             slightly drooping, fertile flowers; upright.         -   Flower size.—Sterile flowers; rotate in shape, average of             5.2 cm in diameter and 1.5 cm in depth, fertile flowers;             rotate, petals are dropped when maturing, average of 7 mm in             diameter and 5 mm in depth.         -   Flower buds.—Sterile flowers; average of 7 mm in length and             4 mm in diameter, ovate in shape and 145A in color, fertile             flowers; average of 5 mm in length and 4 mm in diameter,             broad ovate in shape, 150D in color with base 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Average of 6 cm in length and 4.5 mm in width,             held upright, strong, 53B in color, surface is moderately             covered with thin pubescent hairs, average of 0.2 mm in             length too small to be measured by RHS-CC.         -   Pedicels.—Sterile Flowers; average of 3.4 cm in length and 2             mm in diameter, held at an average angle of 30°, strong, 53B             in color, surface is moderately covered with thin pubescent             hairs, average of 0.2 mm in length and too small to be             measured by RHS-CC, fertile flowers; average of 6 mm in             length and 1 mm in diameter, at an average angle of 15°,             moderate in strength, N199B to N199D in color, surfaces are             matte and smooth.         -   Petals.—Sterile flowers; average of 5 in a rotate             arrangement, ovate to concave in shape, acute apex, cuneate             base, entire margin, average of 4 mm in length and 2 mm in             width, upper and lower surfaces glabrous, color: upper             surface when opening and fully open; NN155C to NN155D, lower             surface when opening and fully open; N155B, not fading, but             dropped when mature, fertile flowers; average of 5 in a             rotate arrangement, ovate and concave in shape, acute apex,             cuneate base, entire margin, average of 3 mm in length and             1.5 mm in width, upper and lower surface texture is glabrous             and matter, color: upper and lower surface when opening;             150D, fading color of upper and lower surface; 76B, tips are             150D, upper and lower surface when fully opened; petals drop             when mature.         -   Sepals.—Sterile flowers; average of 4, rotate in             arrangement, slightly overlapping, both surfaces smooth and             matte, broad rhomboidal to deltoid in shape, margin is             dentate, bluntly obtuse apex, broad acuminate base, an             average of 2.5 cm in length and 3 cm in width, color: upper             surface when opening; 62D, base a blend of 155A to 150D,             lower surface when opening; 73D, base 150D, upper surface             when fully open; 73B to 73C, lower surface when fully open;             73D to 73C, fading to upper side; 75D with tips 144B, fading             to lower side; 76D with tips 144B, fertile flowers; average             of 5, rotate in arrangement, both surfaces glabrous and             matte, ovate in shape, margin is entire, acute apex, broad             cuneate base, an average of 1.5 mm in length and 0.15 mm in             width, color: upper and lower surface when opening; 144A,             upper and lower surface when fully open; 145A to 150B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Sterile flowers; average of 10 stamens,             filaments are 3 mm in length and NN155DA in color, anther is             broadly kidney-shaped, 0.5 mm in length and 155B in color,             pollen is low to moderate in quantity and 155A in color,             fertile flowers; average of 10 stamens, filaments are 2.5 mm             in length and NN155D in color, anthers are broad             kidney-shaped, 0.5 mm in length and 155B in color, pollen is             moderate in quantity and 155A in color.         -   Gynoecium.—Sterile flowers; average of 3 pistils, 1 mm in             length, stigma is club-shaped and NN155C to NN155D in color,             style is 0.5 mm in length and 157D in color, ovary is 157D             in color, fertile flowers; average of 3 pistils, 1.5 mm in             length, stigma is club-shaped and NN155C to NN155D in color,             style is 1 mm in length and 157D in color, ovary is 157C in             color.         -   Fruit and seed.—No seeds or fruit observed to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘KLAHYFLA’ substantially as herein illustrated and described. 